Three-Dimensional Objective Evaluation of the Changes in the Alveolar Ridge Before and After Horizontal Bone...

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Periodontology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Aesthetic zone implant treatment often necessitates bone and soft tissue augmentation for optimal results.
• Radiological methods like cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and intraoral photos assess hard tissues but are limited for soft tissue evaluation.
• Objective evaluation of volumetric and dimensional changes in both hard and soft tissues is crucial for assessing augmentation efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To objectively evaluate volumetric and dimensional changes of the alveolar ridge, including hard and soft tissues, after simultaneous horizontal bone augmentation and implant placement.
• To assess the stability and changes in tissue volume and dimensions over a 12-week period post-surgery.

Main Methods:

• Intraoral digital scanning at baseline (T0) and 2 (T1), 6 (T2), and 12 weeks (T3) post-surgery.
• Superimposition of scans using specialized software to measure volumetric and cross-sectional changes.
• Analysis of ridge width and vertical changes, particularly at the alveolar crest.

Main Results:

• Significant initial volumetric gain observed at T1, followed by a significant decrease from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3.
• Significant increases in ridge width at T1 across all measured levels.
• Significant vertical decrease at the alveolar crest from T1 to T2 and T1 to T3.

Conclusions:

• Horizontal bone augmentation provides initial volumetric gain but leads to substantial reduction at the alveolar crest.
• Findings suggest that rigid fixation might enhance the stability of horizontal augmentation.
• Controlled clinical trials are necessary to confirm the efficacy of rigid fixation and long-term outcomes.